Mercedes-Benz has released an all-electric version of its Sprinter van
The 2024 Mercedes-Benz eSprinter is the latest vehicle to make the leap from internal combustion to electric power. The van features an impressive 113 kilowatt hour battery capacity, giving it an estimated range of between 220 and 260 miles. Two motor options, both driving the rear wheels, are offered in the eSprinter. The smaller motor is rated at 100 kilowatts with the larger rated at 150 kilowatts, both with maximum torque rated at 295 pound feet. The van’s top speed is limited to 75 mph, with total cargo volume of 488 cubic feet and a max payload of 2,624 pounds.
The 2024 Mercedes-Benz eSprinter comes only in long wheelbase, high roof configuration
Most of these figures are comparable to Ford’s E-Transit that was introduced in 2022. The Ford van is also limited to 75 mph, and it offers a comparable 453 cubic feet of cargo volume when configured as a long wheelbase, high roof model. The E-Transit is available in short wheelbase and low roof configurations, but the eSprinter only comes as a long wheelbase, high roof version of the Mercedes-Benz’ Sprinter line (for now...). The biggest difference is battery size, with Ford offering a 68 kWh battery, notably smaller than the eSprinter’s 117 kWh unit.
The eSprinter has 488 cubic feet of space and a payload rating of 2,624 pounds
Despite the larger battery, it’s difficult to know exactly what the eSprinter’s range is because the van’s only official figures, as of this writing, come from the “Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test” (WLTP), which is the fancy name for Europe’s electric vehicle testing process. That test puts the eSprinter at 273 miles in mixed driving and 329 miles in city driving. Those numbers sound impressive...but Europe’s test cycle is notoriously optimistic when compared to U.S. EPA testing.
The eSprinter is available for order now and will be at dealers in mid-February
For example, Ford’s E-Transit, which is also sold in Europe, earns a WLTP range of 196 miles from its 68 kWh battery. But the same van, with the same battery, is rated at 126 miles by our EPA. That’s a loss of approximately 35 percent range. Apply that same loss to the eSprinter’s WLTP numbers and you get 175 miles for the German van in mixed driving, and 211 miles in city driving. Still a much longer range than the Ford, but still shorter than most electric cars currently sold in the U.S.
Despite its size, the eSprinter offers confident and relaxed driving dynamics
Does an electric range between 126 and 211 miles make sense? Both Mercedes-Benz and Ford clearly think so, and they can both make a good argument. Vans like these are primarily used for small business chores, with urban delivery being the most common use case. Imagine a fleet of 1 to 10 vans leaving a central hub in the morning and driving along local streets for the next 8-10 hours before coming back to that central hub.
For daily use in urban delivery, electric vans are the perfect solution
While the vans are in operation all day, the routes they drive and the distances they cover are relatively short, with most trips between 3 and 15 miles. Even after 10 hours they rarely cover more than 100 total miles before being refueled and parked, ready to repeat of the process the next day. Electric vans are not only capable of serving this role, they’re better at it than gasoline vans. The lower cost of electricity and simpler drivetrain design mean lower operating costs, not to mention the reduction in noise and air pollution.
The eSprinter's interior offers comfortable seats and plenty of storage for small items
We spent a few hours driving the new eSprinter on the freeways and surface streets south of Los Angeles. It felt exactly like Mercedes-Benz’ gasoline-powered Sprinter, but with (obviously) no engine noise and zero drivetrain vibration. The eSprinter, despite its impressive size and carrying capacity, feels deceptively small and car-like. If there’s a challenge to driving them, it’s remembering how much vehicle is back there, because its easy-going nature makes it easy to forget.
The touchscreen uses the same Mercedes-Benz interface seen on its cars and SUVs
In this electric configuration the eSprinter features steering wheel paddles that adjust regenerative braking, with four modes, plus a fully automatic mode, offered. The van includes the latest version of the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX), which means a high-definition touchscreen, voice control, and integrated buttons on the steering wheel. A digital rearview mirror is another useful feature, particularly in cargo vans with limited rear visibility. A full suite of safety technology, such as blind spot assist, crosswind assist, and attention assist, are also available.
A port behind the front emblem allows up to 115 KW of charging
The 2024 Mercedes-Benz eSprinter is available for order now, with vans arriving on dealer lots in mid-February. The starting price for the 100 KW eSprinter is $74,161; the 150 KW version costs $77,611. Both numbers are higher than Ford’s E-Transit, which starts around $50,000 but does have a much smaller battery and shorter range. The eSprinter uses a charging port behind the front emblem, with level 2 and higher rates available. A max charging rate of 115 kilowatts is possible at fast-charging stations, which can theoretically bring the 113 kWh battery from 10 to 80 percent in 40 minutes.
On the road to electric vehicles, vans like the eSprinter can and should lead
We’re still early in the transition from gasoline to electric drivetrains, and the timeframe for getting most vehicles to EV power is probably longer than most people (or governments...) want to admit. But in the world of urban package delivery we can't get there soon enough. This is where electric drivetrains shine, and Mercedes-Benz’ eSprinter is looking quite polished.
